219 Best Hotels in France

From the look of this charming, ivy-covered, Anglo-Norman château—complete with storybook tower, private park, and lovely sea vistas—it is easy to understand why Monet, Proust, Offenbach, and other greats accepted invitations here. Built overlooking Étretat by a rich Parisian couple in 1862, the Belle Époque house has guest rooms that are spacious, comfortable, quiet, and individually furnished, with the emphasis on \"individual\"—vast swaths of red fabric, decorator mirrors, and antique gramophones are some flamboyant accents, while other rooms are stylish enough for Maison Française. For a spectacular view, request the Sarah Bernhardt suite, the Impératrice Eugénie room, or the Isadora Duncan room overlooking the pool. In the evening retreat to one of the estate's several restaurants, including the classic Restaurant Gastronomique or Racines, led by Togolese chef Senda David Waguena in the kitchen and Hissein Mahamoud handling dessert.

Designer Jean-Philippe Nuel applied his sleek styling to Le Général, one of Paris's first affordable, high-design hotels. Daring splashes of fuchsia decorate the walls in the common areas, though the rooms are more subdued, in cream, chocolate, and chestnut. Clever decorative touches include clear-plastic desk chairs, ambient lighting, and silver rubber duckies in the bath. A small fitness center and a full-service bar are nice touches, and close proximity to métro stations is another convenience appreciated by guests.

Tucked away in an 18th-century town house on a quiet city center street, just minutes from the Théâtre Antique, this chic boutique hotel—part of Best Western's Signature Collection—has stylishly furnished rooms; a wellness area with a fitness room, sauna, and steam room; and a spacious rooftop pool. The hotel's Le Garden restaurant, with an outdoor terrace, is open for lunch and dinner. Breakfast is served buffet style indoors or on the terrace.

Built in the 1920s and traditionally considered to be St-Jean-de-Luz's premier hotel, Le Grand offers ocean views, intimacy, plus a general sense of being where the action is. Rooms done up in pastels, wood, and marble and an unbeatable location at the northern end of the St-Jean-de-Luz beach seal the deal. Frequented by high rollers and the well-to-do from around the globe, it's the place to stay in this colorful beach town.

This little hotel is smack in the middle of the Haut-de-Cagnes's liveliest square, complete with picture-perfect pétanque games. Guest rooms have been updated with a mix of contemporary and French country antique style, with windows looking onto the square and the hills beyond Cagnes. Set in a fetching weathered stone house, the Grimaldi also houses one of the upper town's best restaurants, the downside of which can be noise if your room faces the square.

Less than a mile below tourist-packed St-Paul-de-Vence, with views of the valley and the village, this lovely little inn is a jumble of terraces, trellises, archways, orange trees, olives, and honeysuckle vines. The main hotel, built in 1920, has good-size rooms and old Provençal furniture; you can also opt for the 18th-century farmhouse, with smaller, more modern rooms but wonderful views. Each room seems to skew toward a private world, and several have individual terraces that are perfect for grasses matinées (late, lazy breakfasts, €15). 

This Norman-style half-timbered inn with its stylish contemporary interiors, lovely gardens, and Michelin-starred restaurant make this a destination unto itself. All the better that it's a mere 10-minute walk from Monet's fabled gardens. Spacious, light-filled guest rooms pleasantly mix upscale design with Art Deco touches and provide a warm, welcoming retreat tucked away in a splendid setting offering plenty of peace and quiet. The chic one-Michelin-star restaurant, open for lunch and dinner (except on Monday and Tuesday), is a great asset. 

Two minutes from the famous Avignon bridge, this contemporarily decorated B&B offers a rooftop terrace view of the palace but also tranquillity away from the noisy palace streets. Opaque glass metal doors open into clean and bright guest rooms, with white bedding, white paint, and white furniture, with artwork providing bursts of color. Your friendly hosts offer all the amenities of a hotel, such as soaps, slippers, a welcome bottle of water, and a candy dish at the door, as well as a tasty breakfast (included) on the terrace or by the fireplace off-season.

Owner Camilla Richards spent 20 years in London before converting this 19th-century Provençal manor house—in the Bois de Fond Merle, perched over a lotus pond with a spectacular pool and near the Cannes–Mougins golf course—into an upscale inn. Light, airy guest rooms are accented with striking nouvelle-mod pieces. You probably won't stray too far from your poolside lounger, except, perhaps, to eat. The restaurant's reasonably priced menu has something for vegetarians, meat eaters, fish lovers, and those with a sweet tooth; the €25 lunch menu is gold.

Tucked into a residential neighborhood—on the crest between Antibes and Juan-les-Pins and surrounded by greenery and well protected from traffic noise—this cool, cozy inn feels like the 1920s private home it once was. Rooms, decked in bright colors and floral prints, have either views of the garden or the sea. If you are looking for a bargain, book the double room with bathroom in the hallway. The well-maintained (though unheated) swimming pool is a haven if you don't feel liking hiking down to Plage de la Salis.

In a storybook setting in the heart of Brantôme, this ivy-covered, turquoise-shuttered stone building looks directly over the placid waters of the Dronne, making this the ideal place to sample the watery charms of this little town (and taste its delights, thanks to the Michelin-starred restaurant here). The guest rooms are decorated in a contemporary style, and the more expensive Caractère rooms come with private terraces overlooking the river and Jacuzzis. The one-Michelin-starred restaurant has eight magnificent arched windows with river views—a memorable setting for dishes such as wild turbot in a local walnut wine Sabayon sauce of girolles mushrooms and dried apricots. There's also a handsome bar for a glass of wine and a snack if you don't want to commit to a rather expensive meal or prefer to dine outside the hotel.

On the shores of Lac d’Annecy in Talloires, this contemporary chalet-style hotel set on a tree-lined property provides the perfect getaway for relaxation. Pastel colors, pale wood floors, and tasteful modern furnishings create an atmosphere of homespun repose, with the lake and the surrounding mountains visible from your private terrace. A spa, heated outdoor pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, and a choice of spa treatments complete your stay. The cheerful bar offers snacks and drinks throughout the day.

The rooms here may not be huge, but they do give you the chance to have your very own Parisian lodging at the foot of Montmartre, packed with lovely touches like chic contemporary-vintage decor, provocative art prints and books, a record player with vinyl records, a fluffy bed, Le Labo toiletries, and quintessential Parisian views. With only 40 rooms, and food and drinks served from 7 am to 2 am in the in-hotel restaurant and bar (both specializing in locally sourced products), you get a clubby feeling perfect for this eclectic, lively, and très Parisian neighborhood.

Just north of town, Le Richebourg looks so ordinary from the outside that you wouldn’t give it a second glance as you drive by on the busy thoroughfare through Vosne-Romanée, but the good-size guest rooms inside are super stylish. A swanky spa and a garden-view restaurant serving modern Burgundy-based cuisine complete the picture.

The convenient location stands out at this warm and welcoming boutique hotel in the chic district between the Eiffel Tower and Les Invalides. From the hotel, it is an easy walk to major monuments and the métro. Wood-floored rooms are cozy, filled with contemporary furnishings, oil-portrait headboards, and rich fabrics in chocolate and plum—some have smashing views of the Eiffel Tower. The small lobby opens onto a dining room and a bar overlooking a private courtyard where a delicious breakfast is served in summer.

Most of the rooms at this memorably eccentric hotel have either frescoes with mythological themes or works that feature an artist's whimsy, but the real draws are the excellent service, the location three blocks from the beach, and the garden—a city-center oasis of lemon, magnolia, palm trees and even exotic birds. Package deals include breakfast or candlelit dinners, but with so many eateries close by, you may not want to tie yourself to on-site meals.

Enjoy the pleasures of both village and countryside at this charming hotel a pleasant 20-minute walk from Versailles. A Relais & Château property, this sophisticated hotel features a large spa, both a bistro and a Michelin-starred gastronomic restaurant, and a magical lakeside setting (where Impressionist artist Corot once lived and worked). Rooms mix contemporary elegance with country touches, featuring elegant black-marble baths, some with spacious terraces. Be sure to request a room with a lake view. The hotel is close to Paris, the fabulous Sèvres museum and porcelain works, and Versailles. It's also a quick bus ride from La Seine Musicale, Paris's newest classical and contemporary music venue set on an island on the Seine.

A good choice for hikers, this family-run lodging—a scenic, mile-long walk from town and set amid woods and vineyards at the foot of the Dentelles de Montmirail—provides a warm welcome and basic but spacious guest rooms. Before heading to the top-notch restaurant, you can take in views of the countryside while enjoying an apéro or a glass of wine on a sprawling terrace shaded by ancient plane trees.

Far from their original role as monastic cells and even further from the Flintstone-influenced idea of cave dwellings, these luxe-prehistoric lodgings—with their limestone walls, chic contemporary style, carved fireplaces, sophisticated lighting, finished marble steps, and riverside setting—exude a quiet luxury amid the soothing elements of stone and water. The 12 cave rooms benefit from large windows and naturally cool temperatures, even in summer. Some guests prefer the three rooms in the regular house—no cave-dwelling drama, but they're comfortable and air-conditioned. The gastonomic restaurant, with an enchanting terrace, offers elegant fare and overlooks the lovely pool and the Loire River. A favored country residence for rich Parisians, the town of Rochecorbon is a treat (once off the main traffic road), thanks to its pretty town center.

With a charming garden overlooking the glistening waters of the bay, this four-star hotel offers great views of the picturesque town of Porticcio. Inside, a bright decor features Art Nouveau wall lamps, Queen Anne chairs, gold-leaf mirrors, colorful ceramic vases, and a spacious lobby that boasts a delightful contrast of crimson and white furnishings. Rooms include Wi-Fi access and flat-screen TVs, and some have sea views. For a day of relaxation in the sun, there are chaise lounges around a heated saltwater pool and hot tub and, a private hotel beach with offshore rocks—a perfect place for snorkeling. There are also two restaurants and a rooftop, open-air spa treatment area.

One of the fine-white-sand beaches that distinguish the Morbihan coast serves as the perfect backdrop for this spare, modern hotel, which calls to mind a cruise ship. All accommodations have a terrace or balcony facing the sea, where guests can indulge in an ample Breton breakfast or simply enjoy a bracing breeze. One bright suite has enormous windows and a wraparound terrace that seems to jut out over the water; smaller digs, decorated in earth tones, have sleek bathrooms and every modern convenience. Another plus is the on-site restaurant with—what else—plenty of fresh seafood offered either in the handsome dining room or, weather permitting, on a large sea-view terrace.

A 17th-century residence within the ramparts is the setting of this delightful hotel featuring stone, stucco, and terra-cotta details as well as classically simple and antique furnishings. The team at the quaint little restaurant will happily cook a whole side of beef in the fireplace or serve up a perfectly grilled Mediterranean fish. On the ground floor are two small, cozy sitting areas; breakfast, weather permitting, is served in the small flower-filled courtyard.

If you’re stopping in Hyères on your way to the islands, consider this bright, airy boutique hotel, where the vaguely Moroccan-style common areas and rooms are as peaceful and soothing as can be, decorated in creamy white and pale ochre, with bespoke furniture and spotless ceramic-tiled bathrooms featuring products from luxury Parisian brand Diptyque. The chic restaurant, open for lunch and dinner, serves a small but well-prepared menu of Mediterranean-influenced dishes, with an emphasis on seafood. You can also dine at the lively bar, featuring small plates to share, craft cocktails, and an eyepopping list of 350 wines, including local gems and French classics, all to enjoy with a program of live music and DJ nights.

This wood-clad hotel in the middle of the vineyards is an upscale wine-country getaway. Inside, a glass-roofed Champagne bar, complete with a wood-burning stove and floor-to-ceiling windows, welcomes guests with flair. The rooms are decorated in soft gray, beige, and brown tones, and come with wooden floors and panoramic views (minus rooms facing the car park). There is a gleaming spa with a hammam, a sauna, and a heated outdoor pool with a sundeck that has sweeping views of the vineyard slopes. The on-site restaurant L'Horisium serves gourmet dishes showcasing the local produce with hints of the chef's Indian origins. The excellent buffet breakfast is served in the same dining room. 

This fine inn has breathtaking views of the countryside and handsome Provençal-style rooms set in beautifully restored old buildings, including an 11th-century monastery. The on-site bistronomic restaurant Riva offers Mediterranean cuisine and the best of the local wines, and you can soak your troubles away in the pool, perhaps after a treatment in the aromatherapy-focused spa.

Manufacturing hip is this urban chain hotel's claim to fame (not surprising, as it's the brainchild of designer Philippe Starck), and it has the formula down pat—offbeat (preferably artsy) neighborhood, check; plenty of graffiti in the interior design, check; functional, minimalist rooms, check; sexy touches, check. For in-hotel nightlife, with its cool pastis bar, local artisanal beer, and great live music on weekends, this spot is a good bet.

The beauty of the coastline is embraced by this Relais & Châteaux hotel, where guest rooms are far more than just comfortable; long and cruise-liner-low, the renovated 19th-century Breton manor house has been outfitted with dramatic windows—plate-glass, round, panoramic—so as to frame stirring vistas of the endless sea and the cliffs of the Côte de Granit Rose (all rooms have sea views and some have terraces). The excellent restaurant, with a wood-beam ceiling inspired by a hull, has a delightful model of the St-Yves ship suspended from its ceiling; it mostly serves seafood, but the squab is also good.

Between Dinard and St-Malo on the beautiful Rance Estuary, this newly renovated country estate provides exceptional comfort and style inside and great views outside, courtesy of its promontory perch. Medieval Dinan is 10 minutes away by car, the beaches of Dinard are 15, St-Malo is 20, and looming Mont-St-Michel is 40, making le manoir an ideal base for exploring Brittany's Emerald Coast. Rooms are tasteful, many with timbered ceilings; and the bar, lounge, and terraces ensure that opportunities for relaxation are ample.

Located on a quiet side street in central Epernay, this spot joins together historic and contemporary architecture under the same roof, extending over three different buildings: a former nobleman's mansion, an ultra-modern wing, and an ancient presbytery. In contrast, the guest rooms are all modern and stylish, decorated in muted tones of gray and beige with wooden floors and glossy, well-equipped bathrooms. The buffet breakfast can be enjoyed in the dining room or outside in the courtyard.

In a prestigious neighborhood a few minutes from the Jardin des Tuileries, Place de la Concorde, Opéra Garnier, and the Louvre, the Meliá Vendôme has handsome and spacious rooms that exude understated elegance. Free Wi-Fi, minibar, and satellite TV are some of the premium perks included in the reasonable rates. Consistent service and an airport shuttle available on request make this Spanish-owned franchise a popular base for international travelers.